Agricultural Marketing Service June 2007 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is withdrawing the document soliciting comments on its proposal to amend the voluntary United States Standards for Grades of Table Grapes (European or Vinifera Type). After reviewing and considering the comments received, the agency has decided not to proceed with this action.

This action summarizes the results under the criteria contained in section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA), of an Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) review of Marketing Order No. 948, regulating the handling of Irish potatoes grown in Colorado (order). AMS has determined that the order should be continued.

Notice is hereby given that the comment period on possible development of United States Standards for Grades of Tomatoes on the Vine is reopened and extended.

This document announces that the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) plans to review Marketing Order 905 (Oranges, Grapefruit, Tangerines, and Tangelos Grown in Florida), and Marketing Order 923 (Sweet Cherries Grown in Designated Counties in Washington) under the criteria contained in section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act (RFA).

This rule would decrease the assessment rates established for the Nectarine Administrative Committee and the Peach Commodity Committee (committees) for the 2007-08 and subsequent fiscal periods from $0.21 to $0.06 per 25-pound container or container equivalent of nectarines and peaches handled. The committees locally administer the marketing orders that regulate the handling of nectarines and peaches grown in California. Assessments upon nectarine and peach handlers are used by the committees to fund reasonable and necessary expenses of the programs. The fiscal period runs from March 1 through the last day of February. The assessment rates would remain in effect indefinitely unless modified, suspended, or terminated.

The Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) is reopening the comment period for 60 days for the proposed rule for mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) for beef, lamb, pork, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts that was published in the Federal Register on October 30, 2003 (68 FR 61944). AMS requests general comments on the proposed rule taking into account that the Agency has changed corresponding definitions and requirements in the interim final rule for fish and shellfish published in the Federal Register on October 5, 2004 (69 FR 59708). When preparing comments on the proposed rule, AMS asks that interested parties consider the provisions of the interim final rule for fish and shellfish and whether the definitions and requirements in the interim final rule can also be applied to beef, lamb, pork, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts. The interim final rule's definitions and requirements include, but are not limited to: Processed food item definition, country of origin notification, markings, and recordkeeping requirements. All affected persons are hereby given notice of the opportunity to submit written data and views concerning the proposed rule. AMS will review and consider the submitted comments and information as it promulgates a final regulatory action for mandatory COOL for beef, lamb, pork, perishable agricultural commodities and peanut covered commodities. AMS is simultaneously reopening the comment period for the interim final rule for the mandatory COOL program for fish and shellfish covered commodities.

The USDA reestablished the Fruit and Vegetable Industry Advisory Committee (Committee). The purpose of the Committee is to examine the full spectrum of issues faced by the fruit and vegetable industry and provide suggestions and ideas to the Secretary of Agriculture on how USDA can tailor its programs to better meet the fruit and vegetable industry's needs. USDA also seeks nominations of individuals to be considered for selection as Committee members.

This rule invites comments on revising the requirements for interhandler transfers of almonds under the administrative rules and regulations of the California almond marketing order (order). The order regulates the handling of almonds grown in California and is administered locally by the Almond Board of California (Board). This rule would require handlers who transfer almonds to other handlers to report to the Board whether or not the almonds were treated to achieve a 4-log reduction in Salmonella bacteria (Salmonella). This action would help the Board track treated and untreated almonds and facilitate administration of its mandatory Salmonella treatment program. This proposal also announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval of a new information collection issued under the order.

The purpose of this rule is to establish procedures which the Department of Agriculture (USDA or the Department) will use in conducting a referendum to determine whether the issuance of the proposed Honey Packers and Importers Research, Promotion, Consumer Education and Industry Information Order (Order) is favored by first handlers and importers of honey or honey products. The Order will be implemented if it is approved by a majority of the eligible first handlers and importers voting in the referendum, who also represent a majority of the volume of honey and honey products handled and imported during the representative period. These procedures would also be used for any subsequent referendum under the Order, if it is approved in the initial referendum. The proposed Order is being published separately in this issue of the Federal Register. This proposed program would be implemented under the Commodity Promotion, Research, and Information Act of 1996.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request approval from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for an extension and revision to the currently approved information collection ``Referendum for the Lamb Promotion, Research and Information Order (Order).'' Once approved, AMS will request that OMB merge this information collection with the information collection for National Research, Promotion, and Consumer Information Programs.

In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), this notice announces the Agricultural Marketing Service's (AMS) intention to request an extension for and revision to a currently approved generic information collection for vegetables and specialty crop marketing order programs.